Reel assembly



March 16, 1954 T c, SMH-H 2,672,303

REEL ASSEMBLY Filed July 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 16, 1954 T, C, SMH-H 2,672,303

REEL ASSEMBLY Filed July 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tween the side walls Il and I2 of the frame to a k point near the periphery of the reeled portion of the Wire 21, being directed toward approximate tangency with the periphery of said reeled portion.

From its inner end 28a the tube 2B continues through a curved portion 28h passing over the outer edge of the frame side wall H, thence through a substantially arcuate portion 28C adjacent the outer face of said side wall, and thence through a terminal portion 28d consisting of a relatively stiff coiled spring free at its outer end. It will be understood, of course, that the inner end of the spring 28d is suitably secured to the outer extremity of the solid portion of the tube 28, which may be made of suitable metal tubing loosely surrounding the wire 21 and certain distance markers secured thereto as described hereinafter. It will be seen that the terminal portion 28d of the guide tube is directed away from the plane substantially oppositely to the direction in n which the handle 24 projects therefrom.

In the initial coiling of the wire 21 on the spool I6 the inner end of the wire may be threaded inwardly through the guide tube 28 yfrom the open end of the spring portion 28d thereof and secured to the winding drum i3 as previously described. 'Substantially the entire length of the wire may then be reeled in on the spool by rotation of the hand crank by means of its handle 23, until the loop or swivel 3l at the outer end of the wire is drawn up to the open end of the spring portion 28d of the guide tube 2S.

To facilitate the handling of the free end of the wire and the attachment thereof to auxiliary measuring tapes, fixed objects or the like, a snap fastener Sla is preferably linked with the outer ring of the swivel 3|and a leather thong 3Ib is tied to the snap fastener, as shown in Fig. l.

In order to insure proper coiling and retention of the wire on the spool and also to introduce a certain amount of friction opposing overrunning of the spool, particularly following the feeding out of a partial length of the wire, there are provided a number of retaining members in the form of substantially V-shaped spring wires 32, 32, each having its apex secured as by welding, soldering, or other suitable means to one of the spacing members I3' of the reel frame and having its divergent free ends extending toward the axis of rotation of the spool and into the space between the side flanges thereof, preferably bearing resiliently against the inner faces of the said flanges.

Further and variable friction opposing rotation of the spool during unreeling and measuring operations is provided by a brake member in the form of a block 33 engaging the peripheries of the side flanges l1, I8 of the spool, as best shown in Fig. 4. This brake member may suitably be made of wood, fiber, rubber, or other material appropriate for frictional braking action on the spool flanges, which latter, of course, are ordinarily made of metal. The block 33 is secured to a lever arm 34 pivotally mounted upon one of the spacing members i3 of the reel frame assembly Ctl A tension spring 35 is connected between another one of the spacing members I3 and the lever arm 34 at a point thereon farther from its pivotal mounting than the mounting of the block 33 thereon, the spring conveniently extending through an opening 24h through the inner end portion 24a of the handle 2d. Thus in the position shown, the brake member 33 is held resiliently against the peripheries of the spool flanges I1, I8 by the action of the spring 35 and provides frictional resistance against rotation of the spool. The resulting braking effect may, however, be varied over a wide range, or eliminated altogether, by manipulation of the free end portion 32a of the lever arm 34, which portion extends into proximity to the manually engageable portion of the handle 2li.

The employment of the wire for measuring operations is provided for by the securing of distance markers 35, 38, best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, at suitable increments of length along the wire 21, such, for example, as every twenty-five feet. These markers are of sleeve form surrounding the wire 21 and are securely fixed thereto by any suitable means such as rolling, crimping, welding, or the like. The use of a sleeve rolling tool such as is commonly used for connecting abutting ends of telephone wires has been found very effective for securing the markers on the measuring wire with ample tightness to insure against accidental displacement.

The marker members are preferably made of relatively thin metal tubing, such as capillary tubing, of suiicient inside diameter to permit their being slid freely along the wire to the proper locations before being xed in place. Thus they add little bulk to the wire when it is coiled up on the reel and do not interfere with the movement of the wire through the guide tube 28. which is of sufficient internal diameter to permit the marker members to pass therethrough without binding. The movement of the marker members through the guide tube or when in contact with obstructions encountered in the use of the wire for measuring purposes is further facilitated by making the said members with tapered ends 36a, 36a.

The distance measurement from a predetermined ypoint on a particular marker 36 to a predetermined point adjacent the free end of the measuring wire 21, such as the inside of the outer loop of the snap fastener 3 I a, is preferably shown by a specific code marking on the marker, as in-f dicated in Figs. 8 and 9 in the form of i grooves or indentations 36h, 36h.

The entire length of the wire 21 is preferably covered with a suitable protective and insulating coating to afford protection of the wire against rust or other corrosion and against damage by abrasion, and likewise to afford protection against accidents which might otherwiseresult from contact of the wire with live electric wires. Such a coating may be made of a tough plastic insulating material, such as neoprene, polyethylene or vinyl plastics, etc., on the order of two to live thousandths of an inch thick.

Referring now to the mode of operation and use of the device embodying the invention, it will be appreciated that the wire 21 is very resilient and of course tends to spring out of coiled condition unless restrained. The guide tube 23 serves an important function in restraining the wire against undue, displacement in the portion immediately beyond the portion which is coiled upon the spooll, by introducing a substantial Nevertheless? `the tlr'uughl-theftubeliypullingLon-itsouterfendiane 'mam-be; retracted'throug'hf-the tube-withflike easel byif'means ofcthevha'nd crank" as v-preeiciusly;v deze scribed;A

'J2-liev positioning1 of the Y termina-1'v portion. 28d!- oiiifthef-gide tube-:substantially inline f. with; .the handle- 24 and in 1 the opposite. l direction-a makes'.- fonease andi convenience-in directing, the out-1 lieti-ofi the` guide tube substantiallir along the' lengtli-` ofifthe-unreeled portionof theiwirei whilev thef' handle of-` the" assembly is held'in -ftliefhand it-"they` operator. However; thel resilient nature' of the tube portionfzdallowsa' Widid'e'greenoii latitudeginy the -positioningof 'the assembly duringeboth reeling -andf-unreeling"-operationsi This", exibleguiding" portionn readily accommod'atesit; selftothe--- direction of 'approach 4ori withdrawalf ofth'eawireand-lprovides for smooth' movements thereof,"- avoiding*ily sharp? bending andv kinloing' 'cfthesamerk By'ftlie actionl 'ofi the 'spring-Wire: retaining# membersi 32; 32: the-fconvolutionsvofthe wireA 2T-*on-the-spool f6 a-rretained*between the side' flangesthereofr and' are'preven'ted from run-ning over ithe edges of said' flanges v-during'I-tl reeling and-iunrelingfof the; wire.` In addition thef--r'ew tai-ning Wires? 32i provide an appreciable amo-unt offriction opposing rotation; of` the spool Hi;- thirs-y prevntingfoverrunnlng of the -spoolf uponr cessation' orf slowingf of the: rate of' pulling-l tliel wire-"out'from "the" reel.' The resilient -natureof tha re'taiiii'ngAll wiresI 31'"` insures f proper' furic'tion# ing* thereof? regardless of lateral i irregularities iir-the's'ideanges--l 1,'- ll Blof-the spoolf Partlcularlyfduring um'eeling of* the Wire* 27 thfef operator may#v press vthe' leverfy arm 3'4-1' up wardlyteward the; handle tc'- increase the frichtion;'between` the braking member 33`- and the sidel flanges- IT, lffl-Voi the spool 'to=''a'ny desired? extent. Also; the friction* mayy be' l increased" up? 'to` aA point 1 where the -spool is -ineffect: locked? in the? frame-as Sma'y bei desired when putting tenv siona on@` the wire during-measuringoperations* Alternatively;- and`A especially# when the wire-fis beiigfv ieele'd in, the braking? eilect" may-be lesse erred orf-eliminated altogetherby the* operatory pressingdowfnwardlyonf thefiree end'13'4a-offthe leve-iarnidj thu'spartially or completely overcoming the effect of the springl35 and the resultantielect ofthe braking' rnember33;v The variable braking" Aeffect-is14therefore'utilized primarilyto prevent overrunningv of the spoolancll to; impartl the desired degreeeof tension --to/-the wire underall conditions.

If;desired,-' the braking member-33 may-bearranged-tobear upon the outerconvolutions o-the Wire' 21'ongthe spool I 5 rather -tha-nruponfthespool :langes-11h13, in which event, ofcourse, ttf-suitable range'of movement will `be-pnwided for-thefleyer arm`34 scr-that the braking4v member will be yable toffollowgthe decreasing diameter -of theqcoils of wire on the spool as any desired lengths of the wire are unreeled.

The use of the measuring wire is not limited to measurements coinciding with the lengths indicated by the distance markers 36, 36. Assuming by way of example that the markers are secured to the wire at increments of twenty-live feet of length, it will be readily understood that measurements of distances other than multiples cf twentyve feet may be made by using in conjunction with the measuring wire and attached to the free presenti inventionxinvolvesi important n advantages over; thefpriorart fby-.reason of its achievement oi" theobjectsthereinbeforelindicated.

While -onlyionerrspecic embodiment :of I'1:1ie.-'i11 ven'tionehasbeeny illustratedand described herein,v

itA will bez-readily understood by those skilledin the: art that-*various changes and modifications may be madefinithedetails offconstruction.,andV arrangementfoffparts `without departingfrom the spiritand-scopeV offthe invention as set lforthV in thciiappended-claimsr-.f

Whatis claimed fas new and Ais desired to bev-sev cured :by Letters Patent, therefore,- is.:

1. A'reel :assembly oomprisinga framesa; spool journ'aled `with respect-thereto, an elongated ilexiible element adapted to be reeled upon said spcc and 1unreeled 'therefrom, and retaining means l semutedA to said frame-and extending into the-space betweenfthefside-flanges of the spool adjacent the inner-facesA thereof andA across substantially the entirewidth of said 'space to prevent 'saidlflexible element' from running over the edges of said an'ges;

n 2; 1A* reel asser'riblgyfv comprising a framaa spool journaledwithrespect thereto,v anelongated dexible element adapted,tobe-reeied'upon said-spool andL unreelcdf therefrom; and retaining-means se cured to said frame and `extendinginto the-spacev betweenf the side `flanges of `the spoolf' and :finto contactwithfthe inner 'faces thereof :to prevent said flexible Aell-eme t lfrom running-over-'the-'edges spool" during reeling and' unreeling operations 4; A reelassembly cornn-rislngiaframe having parallel` spaeed'side walls vand spacing-membersse'cured'betweensaid Walls., and-holding the same in ,Su'clispacedrelationship, a spccljdisposed-'b'ewtween saidl walls and journaled with respect theretd an elongated flexible' element adapted-to bereeled uponsaid'spool and unre'eled'therefrom; and resilient retaining `merrlbers'- secured toat" least-some1 of said spacing members and extend ing"v into the space between'- the side 1 flanges of the spool and into resilient bearing contact-with' the?inner? faces thereof l te prc'ivent', said* exible element 'fromrunningfoverthe edges` offlsaidhees 5l AHreelassembly comprisinga frame having parallel -spaced side wells and spacing memberssecured between said walls and holding the same in such spaced relationship, a spool disposed between said walls and journaled with respect thereto, an elongated iiexible element adapted to be reeled upon spool and unreeled therefrom, and resilient retaining members in the form of substantially V-shaped spring wires havf ing their apices secured to at least some of said spacing members and having their free ends extending into the space between the side anges ci' the spool and into resilient bearing contact with the inner faces thereof to prevent said flexible element from running over the edges of said flanges.

6. A reel assembly comprising a frame, a spool journaled with respect thereto, an elongated flexible element adapted to be reeled upon said spool and unreeled therefrom, a guide tube loosely surrounding a portion of the length of said flexible element beyond the portion thereof reeled upon said spool, said guide tube being secured to said frame, having its inner end directed toward approximate tangency with the periphery of the reeled portion of said flexible element and extending substantially arcuately to a point of external delivery and retraction of said element so as to have frictional engagement with said element to restrain free movement thereof through said guide tube, and braking means acting upon said spool to restrain free rotation thereof.

7. A reel assembly comprising a frame, a spool journaled with respect thereto, an elongated ilexible element adapted to be reeled upon said spool and unreeled therefrom, a guide tube loosely surrounding a portion of the length of said flexible. element beyond the portion thereof reeled upon said spool, said guide tube being secured to said frame and extending substantially arcuately from a point near the periphery of the reeled portion of said nexible element to a point of external delivery and retraction of said element so as to have frictional engagement with said element between said points to restrain free movement of said element through said guide tube, said guide tube also having a flexible terminal portion free at its outer end adjacent the said point of external delivery and retraction of said element, and braking means acting upon said spool to restrain free rotation thereof.

8. A reel assembly comprising a frame, a, spool journaled with respect thereto, an elongated flexible element adapted to be reeled upon said spool and unreeled therefrom, a guide tube loosely surrounding a portion of the length of said iiexible element beyond the portion thereof reeled upon said spool, said guide tube being secured to said frame and extending substantially arcuately from a point near the periphery of the reeled portion of said flexible element to a point of external delivery and retraction of said element so as to have frictional engagement with said element between said points to restrain free movement of said element throughv said guide tube, said guide tube also having a terminal portion adjacent the said point of external delivery and retraction of said element comprising a relatively stii coiled spring free at its outer end, and braking means acting upon said spool to restrain free rotation thereof.

9. A reel assembly comprising a framea spool ,iournaled with respect thereto, a handle secured to the frame and projecting therefrom in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of the spool, an elongated flexible element adapted to be reeled upon said spool and unreeled there-'r' from, a guide tube loosely surrounding a portion of the length of said iiexible element beyond the portion thereof reeled upon said spool, said guide tube being secured to said frame and extending from a point near the periphery of the reeled portion of said flexible element to a point of external delivery and retraction of said element, terminating in a portion directed away from said frame substantially oppostely to the direction in which said handle projects therefrom, and being formed to have frictional engagement with said element between said points to restrain free movement of said element through said guide tube, and braking means acting upon said spool to restrain free rotation thereof.

l0. A reel assembly comprising a frame, a spool journaled with respect thereto, an elongated ilexible element adapted to be reeled upon said spool and unreeled therefrom, a guide tube loosely surrounding a portion of the length of said flexible element beyond the portion thereof reeled upon said spool, said guide tube being secured to said frame and extending substantially arcuately from a point near the periphery of the reeled portion of said nexible element to a point of external delivery and retraction of said element so as to have frictional engagement with said element between said points to restrain free movement of said element through said guide tube, and means acting uron said spool to restrain free rotation thereof, said means comprising braking means of substantially constant effectiveness.

11. A reel assembly comprising a frame, a spool journaled with respect thereto, an elongated exible element adapted to be reeled upon saidspool and unreeled therefrom, a guide tube loosely surrounding a portion of the length of said iiexible element beyond the portion thereof reeled upon said spool, said guide tube being secured to said frame and extending substantially arcuately from a point near the periphery of the reeled portion of said flexible element to a point of external delivery and retraction of said element so as to have frictional engagement with said element between said points to restrain free movement of said element through said guide tube. and means acting upon said spool to restrain free rotation thereof, said means comprising braking means of variable effectiveness.

TEMPLE C. SMITH.

References' cited in the fue of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 296,196 Lockwood Apr. 1, 1884 338,527 Hyde Mar. 23, 1886 690,588 Krex Jan. 7, 1902 773,016 Keuifel Oct. 25, 1904 950,581 Tracy Mar. l, 1910 1,076,870 Dahl Oct. 28, 1913 1,862,683 Kautsky June 14, 1932 2,343,684 Mace Mar. '1, 1944 2,385,939 Pollock Oct. 2, 1945 

